Become part of a movement calling for Affordable School Costs for all

We’ve been chatting with the Community Organiser and Campaigns Manager of Devizes and District Foodbank, Alex Montegriffo, about an important free community conversation on Monday 3rd June, on the subject of the rising costs of school uniform……

A local campaign group of parents, guardians and carers in and around Devizes has been speaking to schools about how to make sure their uniform is affordable over the past year, and their campaign has now branched out to include support for a Wiltshire Council strategy that schools can join to make all aspects of the school day affordable.  

The original campaign arose during the height of the Cost of Living Crisis in 2022 when the impact of school uniform cost was discussed in Devizes and surrounding areas. In 2020, The Children’s Society found that the average annual cost at state-maintained schools per child was £337 at secondary schools, and £315 at primary schools. Families in Devizes reported spending between £200 and £300 a year on all items of clothing and footwear needed for school.

Research shows that these costs can cause families to struggle with other essentials, such as food or bills, or can even contribute to debt if money has to be borrowed to buy school uniform. This affects families both in and out of work. For example, one person involved in the campaign had to borrow money from a family member to afford uniform, and another had to take a Universal Credit advance which they then paid back. This is especially the case where there are multiple items of logoed uniform that can only be bought from a specialist supplier, as these tend to be more expensive.

In response to research revealing the high cost of school uniform in the UK, the UK Government passed a law in 2021 stating that schools need to consider affordability when setting uniform policies. Locally, the campaigns team engaged with schools on the topic of affordable school uniform and invited schools to sign an Affordable Uniform Pledge. Local schools were able to work with parents and guardians to make changes to their school uniform to increase affordability to the benefit of every family. The campaign also received media coverage.

After speaking to Wiltshire Council about affordable uniform and the impact it has on families, the Council launched their Affordable Schools Strategy in September 2023. This is much wider than uniform, as it covers topics such as accessible school trips and activities, the provision of free school meals, and making changes towards affordability to benefit both schools and families. These come under the headings of Resourcing the School Day, Enrichment and Opportunities, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, and Securing Positive Partnership. Schools can join the strategy each year, and will get accredited as they take steps toward affordability. They receive resources, handbooks, case studies and networking opportunities. One of the resources is the Affordable Uniform Pledge, and there is a section on affordable school uniform.

As part of the final phase of the campaign around school costs, any family in and around Devizes can add their support to this strategy, and engage with their school to encourage them to become a member in the next launch on 26th September 2024. This strategy benefits all families, and engagement can be made by families working with schools in person or in writing to encourage them to sign up, with guidance.

To learn more, please come along to a free community conversation from 6:30-7:30pm on Monday 3rd June at the St James Centre, Devizes, SN10 1LR. This phase of the campaign is being organised by Alex, the Community Organiser and Campaigns Manager at Devizes and District Foodbank. Tea, coffee and a wide range of snacks will be provided, and please let Alex know if you’re thinking of attending by email, phone call, text or WhatsApp: T: 07483 377346E: alex@devizesanddistrict.foodbank.org.uk

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